Rogalski Tabbed as New Scranton Skipper
from press release
SCRANTON, Pa. - Toby Lovecchio, director of athletics at
The University of Scranton, has announced the appointment of James
A. Rogalski as head men's lacrosse coach. Rogalski becomes the
sixth head coach in the program's 24-year history. He replaces Tim
Marshall, who served on an interim basis this past season after
taking over for Kevin Dugan, who resigned in January to accept the
position of director of men's lacrosse operations at his alma
mater, the University of Notre Dame.
A native of Arnold, Maryland, Rogalski has coached extensively on
the NCAA Division I and III level since his graduation from St.
Mary's College of Maryland in 1997. For the past six seasons, he
has been on the coaching staff at Rutgers University in New
Brunswick, New Jersey, beginning his career there as head assistant
lacrosse coach in 2004 before being promoted to associate head
coach in 2007. He has also served as an assistant coach at Drexel
University, Washington & Lee University, Goucher College,
Western New England College, and St. Mary's.
"I am grateful to the search committee for bringing an outstanding
group of candidates to our campus," says Lovecchio. "Our search
process was very thorough and I am extremely pleased that Coach
Rogalski accepted our offer to lead our men's lacrosse program. He
brings a tremendous amount of coaching and recruiting experience to
our program. Jim has developed strong relationships on all levels
of lacrosse throughout this country. He has a clear understanding
of our Catholic and Jesuit mission, is very excited to return to
Division III lacrosse and is committed to building a
nationally-competitive program. He has an outstanding work ethic,
and it is without question that he is an excellent mentor and role
model for our students. I look forward to a very exciting future
with Coach Rogalski on our campus."
"I would like to thank The University of Scranton for allowing me
the opportunity to be the head men's lacrosse coach," says
Rogalski. "My family and I are honored to be a part of The
University of Scranton community. I look forward to the challenge
of building on the rich tradition of the men's lacrosse program. We
will work to create an environment of success and excellence both
on and off the field, one that the players, families, alumni, and
members of The University of Scranton community will be proud of. I
am excited about the future prospects for The University of
Scranton men's lacrosse program."
At Rutgers, Rogalski reunited with head coach Jim Stagnitta, whom
he first coached with at Washington & Lee University in
Lexington, Virginia, from September 1999 through August 2001.
During this span, the Generals posted a two-year record of 30-3,
including a semifinal appearance in the 2000 NCAA Division III
championships and a third-place national ranking in 2001.
Rogalski then began a three-year tenure at Drexel, where he served
as defensive and recruiting coordinator and whose first season was
highlighted by nine wins, the fourth-most in the program's history
at the time. He also coached three players who earned all-Colonial
Athletic Association (CAA) honors and another who was named the
conference's rookie of the year in 2002.
In his first three seasons under Stagnitta's guidance at Rutgers,
Rogalski handled a number of coaching and administrative duties,
including game and practice planning, recruiting, monitoring NCAA
compliance, and organizing clinics for local youth players and
youth coaches. In his role as associate head coach over the past
three years, he oversaw the Scarlet Knights's recruiting efforts,
which resulted in nationally-ranked recruiting classes in 2007 and
2008 by Inside Lacrosse magazine and commitments from five high
school all-Americans for this season and next year's freshman
class.
On the field, Rutgers also pulled off a major upset in the
inaugural season of the Big East Conference this year, defeating
NCAA runner-up Notre Dame, 10-8, on March 27 in South Bend,
Indiana.
During his undergraduate days at St. Mary's, he was a four-year
letterman on the men's lacrosse team. A three-year starter,
Rogalski earned all-Capital Athletic Conference honors twice (1st
team, 1996; 2nd team, 1995). He also coached there for two seasons
as an assistant upon graduation before moving on to Western New
England College and Goucher College in 1998 and 1999,
respectively.
Rogalski is the owner of Ski Lax, Inc., and co-owner of Coast to
Coast Lacrosse Camp, Inc.
Jim and his wife, Susan, and daughter, Ella, currently reside in
Milltown, New Jersey.
